Benefits and Risks of Medication Treatment
THE DECISION TO MEDICATE a child with ADHD is difficult. Likewise, deciding whether someone should begin or stop treatment for ADHD as an adult can also be hard. There is a lot of conflicting information. The news and social media have accounts of people benefiting from medication, while there also are stories extolling grave dangers associated…
Read MoreADHD & Obesity: An Under-Recognized Problem
EATING is one of the most routine things people do, yet healthy eating and weight regulation remain a challenge for many individuals. This is especially true for those with ADHD. Several recent research studies looked at the relationship between ADHD and obesity, citing it as an under-recognized problem. A longitudinal study found that men with…
Read MoreHow to Talk with Your Child About Starting ADHD Meds
SLOWLY BUT SURELY, the old stigma attached to ADHD and other neurodevelopmental differences is fading into history. Although full disclosure can still be thorny, the diagnosis of ADHD should not be treated as some shameful family secret. You need not feel defensive or conflicted about your child’s need for medication. This does not mean that…
Read MoreTreatment Intensity, Genetics, and ADHD
This research update focuses on the impact of treatment intensity on outcomes among teens and the genetics of sex differences in the prevalence of ADHD. Does treatment intensity matter? In this study, researchers compared the effectiveness of a high-intensity versus a low-intensity skills-based summer intervention in a sample of 325 adolescents with ADHD. The study…
Read MoreWhat to Do When You Can’t Get the ADHD Medication You Want
Jake is a happy third grader who has ADHD. He takes a stimulant medication that helps him focus, and both his parents and his teacher have noticed an improvement in his behavior, academics, and relationship with classmates. However, the pharmacy just informed Jake’s parents that his medication is on backorder, and they are not sure…
Read MoreStill Distracted After All These Years
Exploring ADHD After Sixty AS A PSYCHOLOGIST who has spent the past several decades thinking and writing about ADHD in its various manifestations, I have always tried to focus on segments of the ADHD population that have been underserved—adults when most thought ADHD was a disorder of childhood; girls and women when most thought…
Read MoreDiscontinuing ADHD Meds
Sometimes the only way to move forward… is to stop. MUCH HAS BEEN WRITTEN about starting medication for ADHD. Carefully controlled treatment trials are crucial in determining who will benefit, what medicine works best, and at what dose. But much less attention has been paid to stopping ADHD treatment. At the beginning of treatment for…
Read MoreChildren and Teens in Southeast Asia Have ADHD, Too
Children and Teens in Southeast Asia Have ADHD, Too By Roby Marcou, MD FOR THE PAST TWENTY-FOUR YEARS I worked as a developmental behavioral pediatrician throughout Asia, based out of Indonesia and then Singapore. My patient population included children and teens from every corner of the world–children attending local schools in Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines,…
Read MoreMastering Your Adult ADHD
ACCORDING TO Steven Safren, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Miami, not all adults with ADHD find that medication reduces their symptoms enough. And for those who do experience significant symptom reduction, many still lack the concrete skills and strategies needed to help them effectively navigate around areas of persisting challenge. Thanks…
Read MoreThe Choice is in the Details: Medication Options for ADHDAsk the Expert
Peaks and Troughs: Uneven Medication Coverage & ADHD
ADHD is a common and potentially serious disorder of inconsistent self-control. Although medication is never the whole answer, it is usually an important part of comprehensive care. If side effects are avoidable, stimulant medications are usually effective. However, with each dose of medication, blood levels rise and fall, in and out of the therapeutic range.…
Read MoreQuestions About ADHD Medication
Questions About ADHD Medication THIS UPDATE examines some of the recent research on medications for ADHD. MEDICATION & SUBSTANCE USE RISK Is risk for substance use reduced in adolescents with ADHD who are treated with stimulant medications? Many parents of youth with ADHD are concerned about whether treating their child’s ADHD with stimulant medications may…
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